Ascobolus key

Key compiled by Yi-Jian Yao (Beijing and Kew)
1	Ascospores large, (35–) 58–71 (–81) x (24–) 28–36 (–40) µm, oblong-ellipsoidal to subglobose; spore ornamentation smooth, or with one or a few crevices, sometimes with a network of ridges	*immersus*
1	Ascospores less than 39 µm in length or diameter, ellipsoidal, fusiform or globose; spore ornamentation various	2
2	Ascospores globose; asci blue in iodine	3
2	Ascospores ellipsoidal or fusiform; asci blue in iodine or not	4
3	Ascospores with small, isolated, round or angular warts of pigmented ornamentation; spore size 10.5–13.5 (–15.0) µm diam	*brassicae*
3	Ascospores with subparallel, longitudinal, anatomosing crevices in pigmented ornamentation; spore size 11.5–13.5 µm diam	*crosslandii*
4	Ascospores usually shorter than 17.0 µm, occasionally up to 17.5 µm	5
4	Ascospores usually longer than 17.5 µm, never smaller than 15.5 µm	7
5	Asci 13.0–15.0 µm wide; ascospores (8.0–) 9.5–15.0 (–16.0) x (5.0–) 6.0–8.0 µm, with subparallel, longitudinal, rarely anastomosing crevices in pigmented ornamentation	*crenulatus*
5	Asci broader than 16.0 µm; ascospores usually larger than 13.0 x 7.0 µm, ornamentation various	6
6	Ascospores smooth, finally often with irregularly reticulate crevices in pigmented ornamentation; asci 150–220 x 16.0–20 (–22) µm; spore size 13.0–17.5 x 7.5–8.5 µm	*carletonii*
6	Ascospore with a wrinkled or irregularly vesiculose layer of pigmented ornamentation; asci 115–145 x 20–30 (–35) µm; spore size (12.0–) 13.0–15.5 (–17.0) x 7.0–10.0 µm	*rhytidosporus*
7	Ascospores fusiform to fusiform-ellipsoidal, with somewhat pointed ends, with subparallel longitudinal and anastomosing crevices, or with broad longitudinal striae 0.5–2.5 µm wide leaving pigmented ornamentation as irregular stripes and locally semi-globose warts	8
7	Ascospores ellipsoidal with rounded or obtuse ends, ornamentation smooth or with granules or warts, or with subparallel longitudinal and anastomosing crevices of fine lines or irregularly reticulate crevices	10
8	Ascospores (15.5–) 17.5–19.5 (–20) x (6.5–) 7.0–9.0 (–10.0) µm, with narrow anastomosing crevices in pigmented ornamentation; on rotten wood, leaves or paper	*epimyces*
8	Ascospores longer than 22 µm, with longitudinal stripes in pigmented ornamentation and locally semi-globose warts; on humid soil or wood	9
9	Ascospores 22–27 x 9.5–12.5 µm; ascomata 0.5–1.0 mm diam; receptacle surface covered with regularly disposed pustules, semi-crystalline, purplish-brown; on wood and leaf litter	*hansenii*
9	Ascospores (23–) 28–38 x (10.0–) 11.0–14.0 µm; ascomata 3.0–6.0 (–8.0) mm diam.; receptacle surface coarsely furfuraceous, yellowish-green to olive-brown; on humid soil	*viridis*
10	Asci usually narrower than 26 µm, occasionally up to 27 µm	11
10	Asci broader than 26 µm (if with a wider range, down to 20 µm wide, but frequently over 27 µm, then take this lead)	21
11	Ascospores with irregularly reticulate crevices in pigmented ornamentation, sometimes appearing as isolated warts and sometimes smooth or granular when young	12
11	Ascospores with predominantly subparallel, usually longitudinal, anastomosing crevices, rarely with an irregularly reticulate network, not smooth or granular when young	14
12	Ascospores ornamented with isolated, irregular or rounded warts, more crowded and thickened at ends; asci 190–270 x 22–26 µm; spore size 17.5–25 (–27.5) x (11.0–) 13.0–15.0 µm; usually on burnt sites	*carbonarius*
12	Ascospores ornamented with irregularly reticulate crevices, granules or warts, more or less evenly distributed, sometimes smooth when young; asci 160–200 x 17.0–23 µm; spore size (17.0–) 19.0–24 x 9.0–14.5 µm; on humid soil	13
13	Ascospores consistently ornamented with irregularly reticulate crevices; spore size 19.0–24 x 11.0–13.5 (–14.5) µm; asci 17.0–23 µm wide	*behnitziensis*
13	Ascospores smooth or finely granular when young, with reticulate crevices or warts when fully developed; spore size (17.0–) 19.0–23 (–24) x 9.0–13.0 µm; asci 17.0–20 µm wide	*geophilus*
14	Ascospores frequently longer than 23 µm	15
14	Ascospores usually shorter than 23 µm, rarely up to 25 µm	16
15	Disk pinkish, yellowish or pale purplish; ascospores (16.0–) 18.0–29 x 9.0–13.0 µm, with longitudinal, anastomosing crevices in pigmented ornamentation; asci 175–240 x 20–26 µm	*roseopurpurascens*
15	Disk greenish or yellowish-green; ascospores (16.0–) 19.0–28 (–32) x (9.0–) 10.0–14.0 (–16.0) µm, with longitudinal, anastomosing, rarely reticulated crevices in pigmented ornamentation; asci (120–) 180–250 x (20–) 24–30 (–32) µm	*furfuraceus*
16	Disk and receptacle white, finally darkened by adhering ascospores; ascospores 16.0–20 x 9.0–10.0 µm	*sacchariferus*
16	Disk and receptacle yellowish, greenish-yellow, greenish, or olive; ascospores various in size	17
17	Excipulum clothed with small regular groups of subglobose or pyriform cells with rust-brown walls	18
17	Excipulum smooth or clothed with groups of subglobose cells with hyaline or yellowish walls	19
18	Ascomata stalked; asci not or scarcely blue in iodine; ascospores 15.0–22 x 8.0–11.5 µm, often swollen when ripe, with anastomosing, sometimes reticulated crevices of up to 1.5 µm wide, leaving pigmented ornamentation as longitudinal islands	*foliicola*
18	Ascomata sessile; asci blue in iodine; ascospores (16.0–) 18.0–22 (–23) x (8.5–) 9.5–11.5 µm, not swollen when ripe, with anastomosing, fine crevices in pigmented ornamentation	*denudatus*
19	Ascomata distinctly stalked, (2.0–) 5.0–12.0 mm diam., up to 5.0 mm high; ascospores 16.0–19.5 x 8.5–10.0 µm, with 7–12 longitudinal fine crevices in pigmented ornamentation in one view	*lignatilis*
19	Ascomata sessile, substipitate to short stalked, 0.5–3.0 mm diam., up to 0.3 mm high or 0.8–2.0 mm high; ascospores frequently greater than 19.0 x 10.0 µm, when smaller than 19.0 x 10.0 µm then spores with 1–6 longitudinal crevices of 0.2–0.5 µm wide wide in pigmented ornamentation in one view	20
20	Ascospores with 1–6 longitudinal crevices 0.2–0.5 µm wide in pigmented ornamentation in one view; ascomata substipitate to short stalked, 0.8–2.0 mm high; asci blue in iodine; spore size 17.0–22 x 9.5–12.0 µm	*michaudii*
20	Ascospores with 7–12 longitudinal fine crevices in pigmented ornamentation in one view; ascomata sessile to substipitate, up to 0.3 mm high; asci pale blue in iodine when young; spore size 19.0–22 (–25) x 9.5–13.0 µm	*perplexans*
21	Ascospores with longitudinal, anastomosing crevices in pigmented ornamentation	22
21	Ascospores with smooth, warty or finely granular ornamentation, rarely with a few fine crevices	23
22	Disk white, lacking a margin; apothecia 0.3–1.0 (–1.5 ) mm diam.; ascospores (18.0–) 20–36 (–39) x (9.0–) 11.0–14.0 (–16.0) µm	*albidus*
22	Disk greenish or yellowish-green, finally often brownish or blackish-brown, with a prominent margin; apothecia 0.5–5.0 mm diam.; ascospores (16.0–) 19.0–28 (–32) x (9.0–) 10.0–14.0 (–16.0) µm	*furfuraceus*
23	Ascospores ornamented with regularly distributed isolated warts or irregular caps	24
23	Ascospores smooth or finely granular, sometimes with irregularly distributed small warts and anastomosing granules	26
24	Ascospores 18.0–23 x 9.0–11.5 µm, ornamented with isolated regularly distributed warts; asci 34–38 µm wide	*hawaiiensis*
24	Ascospores greater than 25 x 14.5 µm, ornamented with irregular caps or regularly distributed isolated warts; asci 39–56 µm wide	25
25	Ascospores ornamented with irregularly disposed pigment as caps or warts, usually with a broad zone without large warts, attached with sub-equatorial mucilage; disk white; asci 380–500 x 49–56 µm; spore size (27–) 30–35 x 16.0–18.0 µm	*degluptus*
25	Ascospores ornamented with more or less evenly disposed coarse, rounded warts, attached with a unilateral mucilage; disk pale olivaceous to almost hyaline or greenish yellow; asci 150–400 x 39–55 µm; spore size 25–32 x (14.5–) 16.0–17.5 µm	*stictoideus*
26	Receptacle surface finely warted or furfuraceous; hymenial mucilage bright sulphur-yellow; ascospores dark brown, (19.5–) 21–26 x (10.0–) 11.5–13.0 µm, smooth or finely granular	*boudieri*
26	Receptacle surface smooth or rarely thinly tomentose; hymenial mucilage greenish-yellow or brownish; ascospores violet or purplish-brown, 17.5–32 x 10.0–17.5 µm, smooth or finely granular, sometimes with fine crevices or small warts or anastomosing granules	27
27	Ascospores (17.5–) 19.0–23 (–24) x 10.0–12.0 (–13.0) µm, ornamentation smooth or finely granular, sometimes with small warts or anastomosing granules; ascomata superficial	*mancus*
27	Ascospores 23–29 (–32) x 11.5–17.5 µm, ornamentation smooth or finely granular, rarely with fine crevices; ascomata partly immersed to superficial	*elegans*

Classification:

Search form

You are here